Today has been a busy day. Recently TMP has been introducing me to their aquaponics* system, which is extremely simple in theory, but very complex to manage. But it has been great to spend some time outside the office and work with my hands. I figured out how to change a busted outlet for a new one today, and I am way proud of myself for that.
A short time ago, my friend Tim talked to me about how life in Kansas was going, and how my heart was doing. I admitted that the move has been tough, and I really miss everyone back home, and he replied by calling me to be focused instead of nostalgic. He really called me out, because as I examine my attitude towards being in Kansas, I have been grateful, but at the same time, I sorely miss Florida and all my friends. Tim said, "Nostalgia never helped anyone get anywhere." This could not have been more true, or applicable to me in this moment. Not a day goes by where I don't think about Tallahassee, or Lakeland and wonder if I'm making the right decision. But I have to trust God, yet another idea that is simple in concept but complex in action.
God is planning something, I can see this because I am nearly 100% funded to stay in Topeka for year, which initially was a concern for me. But God keeps throwing money my way from places I didn't even know it would come from, just as to say, "Here you go, Daniel. You better get comfortable in Topeka." Which cracks me up, because I can only see such a small piece of the picture that God is working on in this stage in my life. My moss, Jon, called me to think about my time here as short, because in the grand scheme of my entire life, or even bigger: eternity, one year spent in Topeka is a short time. I only have 11 more months to do as much good for TMP as I possibly can. I would challenge you, reader, to commit to wherever you might be in your life right now. Pray that you and I could be used, stretched, and grown as we seek to impact the community we are in for the gospel. Pray that we would grow to love the people around us, even to the point of sacrificing ourselves.
All this being said, I'm sorry if the things I have posted on any social media site seemed really nostalgic, I am praying that God would change my heart to grow in Topeka. I want to grow to know and love people in my community, and build relationships here. I apologize for seeming like I am not grateful, or blessed to have this opportunity right now to work for an amazing ministry.
Thanks for all the support and prayers, the weeks at work are getting busier and busier! TMP continues our church visits this weekend, so pray that people would be globally and missionally minded, and respond to the invitation to give that we present! I love and miss you all!
John3:30
-Daniel
* Aquaponics is a sustainable food productionsystem that combines Aquaculture (raising of aquatic animals such as fish, crawfish, shrimp, etc.) and Hydroponics (the growing of plants in water such as tomatoes, squash, watermelon, lettuce, etc.) in a self sustaining environment. We are currently building a new facility in the Dominican Republic, for more information visit Trashmountain.com.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Love: August 29th, 2013
Its so crazy to believe that I've been in Topeka for nearly a month! It feels like it has been so much longer! Needless to say, I am blessed to be here. I am confident that God is working in me, and will work through me in ways I may never know during my stay in Kansas.
I have been going through a book with Jon, my discipler (is that a word?) and director of operations, called When Helping Hurts that has helped grow my knowledge of ministry, and helped me better understand why TMP does the work it does.
Today 1 John 3:16 really stuck out to me while I was reading. I'm sure you've heard it before as I have, but today it made me think about what I am doing to show love. It says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
I would encourage you to think through this as well. We have the greatest representation of love, in the greatest act of love ever shown. Jesus Christ left the glory and praise of heaven, to come to earth and suffer as we do, to let the very people he created mock him, accuse him, and kill him to bear the weight of our sin and shame towards him. This is love.
I have so many people in my life that I love, and genuinely care deeply for their well being. But what am I doing to sacrificially show love for them? Take it a step further; how can I sacrificially show love to my family? My parents? Even one step further; how do I show love to people who can't stand me? Or to Non Christians who constantly make jokes of my faith?
I do a terrible job of showing love sometimes, often when it means the most. But I invite you to pray with and for me, that we could become people who love until it hurts us, because we were loved the same way by Christ. The greatest way we can show the love of Christ is to lay down our lives and be useful to everyone around us. What a great testimony to the love we have received in Christ!
Another quick update: last night I visited Fellowship Bible Church as a volunteer youth leader, and was asked to lead a small group of 11th grade boys within the following weeks! Very excited about the opportunity to walk with these young men and they discover who they are in Christ, and grow together.
As I talked with Jon today, I realized that I need to be praying for faith. Even if I cannot see God doing amazing things right in front of my eyes, I need faith to trust that God is working, and that my time spent in Topeka will be worthwhile because I am serving Christ. I want it to be a joy to serve, and to love people in Kansas, so please be praying for grace in my life to make this possible.
I miss everyone in Florida dearly, thanks for your prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
I have been going through a book with Jon, my discipler (is that a word?) and director of operations, called When Helping Hurts that has helped grow my knowledge of ministry, and helped me better understand why TMP does the work it does.
Today 1 John 3:16 really stuck out to me while I was reading. I'm sure you've heard it before as I have, but today it made me think about what I am doing to show love. It says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
I would encourage you to think through this as well. We have the greatest representation of love, in the greatest act of love ever shown. Jesus Christ left the glory and praise of heaven, to come to earth and suffer as we do, to let the very people he created mock him, accuse him, and kill him to bear the weight of our sin and shame towards him. This is love.
I have so many people in my life that I love, and genuinely care deeply for their well being. But what am I doing to sacrificially show love for them? Take it a step further; how can I sacrificially show love to my family? My parents? Even one step further; how do I show love to people who can't stand me? Or to Non Christians who constantly make jokes of my faith?
I do a terrible job of showing love sometimes, often when it means the most. But I invite you to pray with and for me, that we could become people who love until it hurts us, because we were loved the same way by Christ. The greatest way we can show the love of Christ is to lay down our lives and be useful to everyone around us. What a great testimony to the love we have received in Christ!
Another quick update: last night I visited Fellowship Bible Church as a volunteer youth leader, and was asked to lead a small group of 11th grade boys within the following weeks! Very excited about the opportunity to walk with these young men and they discover who they are in Christ, and grow together.
As I talked with Jon today, I realized that I need to be praying for faith. Even if I cannot see God doing amazing things right in front of my eyes, I need faith to trust that God is working, and that my time spent in Topeka will be worthwhile because I am serving Christ. I want it to be a joy to serve, and to love people in Kansas, so please be praying for grace in my life to make this possible.
I miss everyone in Florida dearly, thanks for your prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
August 27, 2013
Since I got in my car this morning, I have strongly felt the comfort and peace that I have been praying for since I arrived in Topeka. And so far, the day has continued to amplify the peace and comfort that I needed.
We had a fun staff meeting this morning. I really enjoy working with such a diverse group of people that God has called into his plan. I know that I say this every update, but God is absolutely blowing my mind with the work he is doing through this ministry. As I heard different department updates today, I was blown away to see God moving and blessing us in ways from giving us an audit as an organization with no recommendations, to letting us expand our staff and office space within the next 2 months! I am truly blessed to be gaining so much experience through this internship, even in just the first 4 weeks. God is faithful, even when I doubt.
I have loved listening to Matt Chandler sermons when I have down time at work, and I am starting a book today with Jon, our director of operations, called When Helping Hurts.
Today I listened to a sermon by Matt Chandler that now stands as one of the best sermons I have ever heard* called A Call to Pray. It talked about the prayer life of a believer, and the power we have access to through Christ and his work on the cross for us. He made a reference to Psalm 13, which in v1-4 David is lamenting and feeling forsaken by God. He wonders how much longer it will be until God steps in and gives him victory, or hears his cry. But in v5-6 he says this, "But I have trusted in your steadfast love, me heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me."
This passage blew me away, and reminded me of the blessing it is to be able to petition God with our needs. In Isaiah 55 he gives us an open invitation to the throne to bring our requests to him! What a blessing!
I have been writing things down that really stuck with me for the few sermons I have listened to, these are a few from today:
"God answers all our prayers just like we would answer our prayers if we knew all that he knew." -Tim Keller
"We have the public portrayal of God's seriousness about redeeming and rescuing is in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ."- Matt Chandler
(This one was my favorite from today)
"Regardless of what befalls me, and regardless of what befalls those around me, here's what can never be taken from me: my eternity and future are so secure in Jesus Christ that even the most horrific of sorrows here and now will one day in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God seem like light and momentary afflictions."- Matt Chandler
What a blessing to be reminded of our security in Christ. Today I am thankful for our invitation into God's family, to be able to approach the throne and bring our worries, our fears, our doubts, our insecurities, and our shortcomings and lay them all down as we trust in his steadfast love, and rejoice in our salvation.
John3:30
-Daniel
"God answers all our prayers just like we would answer our prayers if we knew all that he knew." -Tim Keller
"We have the public portrayal of God's seriousness about redeeming and rescuing is in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ."- Matt Chandler
(This one was my favorite from today)
"Regardless of what befalls me, and regardless of what befalls those around me, here's what can never be taken from me: my eternity and future are so secure in Jesus Christ that even the most horrific of sorrows here and now will one day in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God seem like light and momentary afflictions."- Matt Chandler
What a blessing to be reminded of our security in Christ. Today I am thankful for our invitation into God's family, to be able to approach the throne and bring our worries, our fears, our doubts, our insecurities, and our shortcomings and lay them all down as we trust in his steadfast love, and rejoice in our salvation.
John3:30
-Daniel
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Great Weekend!
This weekend has been great! I met some college students from the area who are involved in YoungLife, and was surprised when they immediately started inviting me to hang out with them this weekend! I have been praying for weeks that God would bring some people into my life who are passionate about serving him, and around my age group. had it not been such a busy weekend, I would have spent the majority of it with them.
This weekend has been great, but busy. On Saturday, I moved into a new host home a little further south in Topeka. I have been to the DR with two of the family members, and have loved getting to meet the rest of the family! So, as you can imagine, yesterday was full of packing, and unpacking and trying to get settled into a new living space. But, shortly after I got settled I went to church with Jon, the director of operations at TMP, and his wife Elaine. The worship Pastor of the church we went to is actually from Lakeland, and led worship for a long time at a big church where most of my friends attended. I had met him once before in the past, and we officially met and talked for roughly 20 minutes about ministry, music, and Topeka. I offered my services in the worship band, and he said I could definitely be used in the future! This was another goal of mine upon moving to Topeka, to get myself involved in the local church through worship.
Starting this week, Trash Mountain Project is beginning church visits every Sunday morning/evening, so over the course of the next 4-5 weeks I will be running a TMP table at 6-7 churches. This is a unique opportunity in ministry to help people get involved through volunteering, giving, or in prayer to aid the ministry in the work God has called us to do. After two services where we showed our documentary on TMP's work in the Philippines, I am exhausted and looking forward to resting before I head to another church this evening. On a side note, a lady in the first service today, during a time of prayer requests, asked that we be in prayer for a little boy named Grayson from Florida, who has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. This caught me off guard because Grayson and his family go to my home church in Tallahassee, FL! Crazy to think that she heard the request through several people on Facebook, and is now sharing this need for healing in his life with everyone she knows.
This weekend, God has shown his faithfulness to me. I have been disappointed lately because I have not had much luck finding friends my own age, or getting plugged into the church I was visiting. But this weekend, as some things started in motion for me to make some friends AND get involved in my church, I was reminded of the love God has for me. He as called me into something so much bigger than myself. Ministry is far bigger than the people who are called into it, but God calls people into ministry to do mighty things in and through them. I was also reminded of the work TMP is doing overseas this morning, as I watched the documentary.
It made me think of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which says, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
What a great reminder of the Gospel. My own heart will tell me that my suffering is not worth whatever it is God is doing that I cannot see. The Gospel is worth our suffering, because it is achieving a glory beyond anything we can imagine. My circumstances may not be ideal, but the Gospel is worth my discomfort. God is doing so many more things through TMP than I can dream of telling you. God is so faithful, and I am greatly reminded of his love, and his promises to comfort those who are crushed in spirit.
On another side note: Florida State football starts in less than a week, and I could not be more excited.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
This weekend has been great, but busy. On Saturday, I moved into a new host home a little further south in Topeka. I have been to the DR with two of the family members, and have loved getting to meet the rest of the family! So, as you can imagine, yesterday was full of packing, and unpacking and trying to get settled into a new living space. But, shortly after I got settled I went to church with Jon, the director of operations at TMP, and his wife Elaine. The worship Pastor of the church we went to is actually from Lakeland, and led worship for a long time at a big church where most of my friends attended. I had met him once before in the past, and we officially met and talked for roughly 20 minutes about ministry, music, and Topeka. I offered my services in the worship band, and he said I could definitely be used in the future! This was another goal of mine upon moving to Topeka, to get myself involved in the local church through worship.
Starting this week, Trash Mountain Project is beginning church visits every Sunday morning/evening, so over the course of the next 4-5 weeks I will be running a TMP table at 6-7 churches. This is a unique opportunity in ministry to help people get involved through volunteering, giving, or in prayer to aid the ministry in the work God has called us to do. After two services where we showed our documentary on TMP's work in the Philippines, I am exhausted and looking forward to resting before I head to another church this evening. On a side note, a lady in the first service today, during a time of prayer requests, asked that we be in prayer for a little boy named Grayson from Florida, who has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. This caught me off guard because Grayson and his family go to my home church in Tallahassee, FL! Crazy to think that she heard the request through several people on Facebook, and is now sharing this need for healing in his life with everyone she knows.
This weekend, God has shown his faithfulness to me. I have been disappointed lately because I have not had much luck finding friends my own age, or getting plugged into the church I was visiting. But this weekend, as some things started in motion for me to make some friends AND get involved in my church, I was reminded of the love God has for me. He as called me into something so much bigger than myself. Ministry is far bigger than the people who are called into it, but God calls people into ministry to do mighty things in and through them. I was also reminded of the work TMP is doing overseas this morning, as I watched the documentary.
It made me think of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which says, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
What a great reminder of the Gospel. My own heart will tell me that my suffering is not worth whatever it is God is doing that I cannot see. The Gospel is worth our suffering, because it is achieving a glory beyond anything we can imagine. My circumstances may not be ideal, but the Gospel is worth my discomfort. God is doing so many more things through TMP than I can dream of telling you. God is so faithful, and I am greatly reminded of his love, and his promises to comfort those who are crushed in spirit.
On another side note: Florida State football starts in less than a week, and I could not be more excited.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Prayer Requests
I hope everyone is having a good week so far, please keep these things in mind as you pray for me this week!
Please pray that God would show himself to me in his word, that I would desire it and seek him in my time of reading.
Please pray for rest, I have not been sleeping well and could use a good nights sleep. It makes focusing on work very difficult if I have not had a restful night.
Please pray that I would spend more time in prayer, and would desire to communicate with God and seek his advice on everything in my life, because I believe it will be worth it.
Please pray for a renewed joy for serving in the office.
Please also be praying for CCF, as they start Go week at Florida State this week. This is an incredible ministry opportunity for an unbelievable group of students who are very dear to my heart. Pray that God would shock the campus, and bring people back to himself through the words and service of the 250 students participating in Go Week.
Thanks for reading, I greatly appreciate your prayers.
John3:30
-Daniel
Please pray that God would show himself to me in his word, that I would desire it and seek him in my time of reading.
Please pray for rest, I have not been sleeping well and could use a good nights sleep. It makes focusing on work very difficult if I have not had a restful night.
Please pray that I would spend more time in prayer, and would desire to communicate with God and seek his advice on everything in my life, because I believe it will be worth it.
Please pray for a renewed joy for serving in the office.
Please also be praying for CCF, as they start Go week at Florida State this week. This is an incredible ministry opportunity for an unbelievable group of students who are very dear to my heart. Pray that God would shock the campus, and bring people back to himself through the words and service of the 250 students participating in Go Week.
Thanks for reading, I greatly appreciate your prayers.
John3:30
-Daniel
Monday, August 19, 2013
August 19, 2013
This weekend was refreshing, and restful. This was much appreciated due to the fact that I have not been sleeping well for the past two weeks since I arrived.
I tried to locate a college ministry at Topeka Bible Church this Sunday morning, and then I planned on going to the late morning service. But I was unable to find the right room where the group was meeting. This was frustrating at first, but I went to the early service at Topeka Bible Church, and then caught the late morning service at Fellowship Bible Church where I sat with a friend I haven't seen in 2 years since we took a trip to the Dominican Republic together.
As I listened to the pastor speak, I felt that God was really trying to say something to me that day. almost as if he kept nudging me, telling me to pay attention. As Pastor Hishmeh talked about identity in Christ, he explained that most of us fear that, by stepping out of our comfort zone, we will be missing out, or that God is not giving us whats best. He asked us to take some time to pray through that, and I definitely needed to; because I realized that's been the main cause of my anxiety since my move.
One of my greatest fears, as someone who is very relationally oriented, is leaving a city full of people that I love; like Tallahassee or Lakeland, and returning after a year away to find that I missed out on so much experience. That everyone moved on, and formed relationships that I will be behind on. As petty as this may sound to some of you, this is what keeps me awake at night. I am worried that I am missing out on life to the fullest with my friends in Tallahassee, and that things won't be the same when I return.
But God's promises relieve this fear immediately. As my good friend, Anna, has told me time and time again, when you are following God you can never worry that he is holding out on you, or trying to keep good things back from you. That's not what type of loving God we serve. He promises that, to those who love and serve him, he will protect and guide, and give life to the fullest. I am complete in my joy because my life is hidden with God in Christ! No joy is greater than knowing my sins have been pardoned, and I have life with God through Jesus. I am vigorously praying to believe this with my life. To fully know that God is for me, and that this experience will shape who God wants me to be for the rest of my life. I am praying to let go of my fear that God is holding out on me, because the Gospel says it is not true. Please pray that I will understand this, and grow to love and desire God more every day. Please pray, also, for CCF as they kick off Go Week in Tallahassee this coming week. Please pray that the students will have boldness, and clarity as they seek to reach out to the new students on campus. Pray for the staff at CCF, that they would never be overwhelmed, but that they would have peace and understanding about the direction God wants to lead them this coming year.
Please pray for Trash Mountain Project as well. There has been some heavy storms in the Philippines, although we have confirmed with our teams on the ground that they are fine, please pray that God would protect these four ministry sites in Manila.
I love and miss everyone in Florida dearly, I greatly appreciate your prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
I tried to locate a college ministry at Topeka Bible Church this Sunday morning, and then I planned on going to the late morning service. But I was unable to find the right room where the group was meeting. This was frustrating at first, but I went to the early service at Topeka Bible Church, and then caught the late morning service at Fellowship Bible Church where I sat with a friend I haven't seen in 2 years since we took a trip to the Dominican Republic together.
As I listened to the pastor speak, I felt that God was really trying to say something to me that day. almost as if he kept nudging me, telling me to pay attention. As Pastor Hishmeh talked about identity in Christ, he explained that most of us fear that, by stepping out of our comfort zone, we will be missing out, or that God is not giving us whats best. He asked us to take some time to pray through that, and I definitely needed to; because I realized that's been the main cause of my anxiety since my move.
One of my greatest fears, as someone who is very relationally oriented, is leaving a city full of people that I love; like Tallahassee or Lakeland, and returning after a year away to find that I missed out on so much experience. That everyone moved on, and formed relationships that I will be behind on. As petty as this may sound to some of you, this is what keeps me awake at night. I am worried that I am missing out on life to the fullest with my friends in Tallahassee, and that things won't be the same when I return.
But God's promises relieve this fear immediately. As my good friend, Anna, has told me time and time again, when you are following God you can never worry that he is holding out on you, or trying to keep good things back from you. That's not what type of loving God we serve. He promises that, to those who love and serve him, he will protect and guide, and give life to the fullest. I am complete in my joy because my life is hidden with God in Christ! No joy is greater than knowing my sins have been pardoned, and I have life with God through Jesus. I am vigorously praying to believe this with my life. To fully know that God is for me, and that this experience will shape who God wants me to be for the rest of my life. I am praying to let go of my fear that God is holding out on me, because the Gospel says it is not true. Please pray that I will understand this, and grow to love and desire God more every day. Please pray, also, for CCF as they kick off Go Week in Tallahassee this coming week. Please pray that the students will have boldness, and clarity as they seek to reach out to the new students on campus. Pray for the staff at CCF, that they would never be overwhelmed, but that they would have peace and understanding about the direction God wants to lead them this coming year.
Please pray for Trash Mountain Project as well. There has been some heavy storms in the Philippines, although we have confirmed with our teams on the ground that they are fine, please pray that God would protect these four ministry sites in Manila.
I love and miss everyone in Florida dearly, I greatly appreciate your prayers and support.
John3:30
-Daniel
Friday, August 16, 2013
August 16, 2013
After 2 whole weeks of working in the offices at Trash Mountain Project, I am humbled and honored to be able to work for such an incredible ministry. The experience I am gaining while taking part in what God is doing through this ministry is priceless, and I cannot wait to see how God continues to develop my love for ministry.
When I originally counted the cost of making the move to Topeka, I made sure to try and be realistic about finances, finding a church, making friends, and taking responsibility for my actions. But as I am entering my second week in Kansas, I am sad to say that things are not as glamorous as they seemed from Florida in my preparation. As I have previously stated, things at work are great, and I could not imagine working for a more incredible ministry than TMP. The past two weeks have been very draining, as I attempt to learn a new city, adjust to a new job, and going through the process of finding a church that I can fit in at. I understand that this is only the beginning of my experiences here, but I am asking you to pray for strength, and for faith.
I find myself exhausted most of the day, just because of how hard this move has been hitting me; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Please pray for strength to complete the task at hand. I have exhausted my own strength, and can only rely on Christ's power within me if I want to succeed. Please pray for faith, and for assurance that this is the place God has called me to be. I feel very strongly that he brought this opportunity to stretch me, and to mold me. Please pray that I would trust God as the sovereign ruler of my life, who knows what is best for me. One of the hardest parts of having to adjust to a new city, for any extrovert, is not having any friends in a place that is strange. Please pray for Godly men and women to be brought into my life who will encourage and challenge me in my walk with Christ. My hope is to meet new people through a college/ 20 somethings Sunday school class I will be attending this weekend, or to get plugged into another college small group at a different church.
I understand that everything I have just explained may be a lot for some of you to handle reading. Please do not worry, I know that God is on the throne, and there is no slump too big for him. He is greater than my circumstances, and he will have the victory over my worry, exhaustion, and lonliness. Please pray for me, God is doing incredible things in my heart and through the ministry I have been placed in. Also pray for Josh, the IT director at TMP, and his family as they begin to move up to Topeka at the end of the month. Pray for a smooth transition, and a quick adjustment for his family.
I should be moving into a new host home around the end of next week, and I am very excited about staying with a new family I have had previous experiences with doing missions work.
Thank you for taking time to read this, and for your prayers.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Morning Devotions: August 14, 2013
This morning I read Romans 9 for my devotions, which to some may appear to be all about predestination or election. So, rather than make this theologically uncomfortable for everyone to read, I have decided to take a little different route based on what God really showed me and reminded me of this morning.
Paul does a great job of explaining how God chose the Israelites to be his people, but that did not mean that they were all children of God. In verse 6 he says, "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Many Jewish people would flash there descent from Abraham as a symbol of their relationship with God, but Paul makes it clear later that God's favor only carried with those who came from Isaac, Abraham's promised son through Sarah. He states in this verse that true membership into God's people is based on faith, and not on physical ancestry.
This is GREAT news for people who understand God's grace. I'm not claiming to understand it fully, because God is teaching me so much, and I know about as much as a child in my faith; but God has reminded me of something truly incredible this morning. My acceptance by the Creator of all the universe is not based on how much money my family makes, where I was born, who my grandparents were, what football team I like, my political views, and it is certainly not based on anything I have done to try and be "good enough" for God; but it is solely based on faith in the fact that God loves me, ad sent his son to take the punishment for the crimes of treason and idolatry against Him. This is GREAT news because the same is true for ALL people. Not just the people who have their life together, or who were born in the south, or for people who are good enough. But EVERYONE. When Jesus gives an invitation to follow him in John 3:16, he says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." When he says whoever believes he means every single person who believes.
In a society where everything we do has qualifications or prerequisites, Jesus offers us something different. You may make a sports team because you perform well enough, or may land a job because you went to a good school, or you may get into a country club because you make enough money; thankfully this is not the case with Jesus. The only prerequisite for being a follower of Jesus is admitting the truth: that we don't have it all together, that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves from the punishment we deserve, that our life will fall apart and leave us feeling empty without Jesus, that we have no greater purpose than to serve him, and we need his grace to live a life worthy of the sacrifice he gave to save us. It's based on faith in the One who created us to save us from ourselves, and the judgement we have earned.
I am so thankful for grace today, and even more grateful for the people God has placed in my life who have brought me back to him, our out my rebellion and selfishness, time and time again. I am thankful for the cross, because it is enough for a sinner like me to be accepted by a holy and righteous God. I am thankful for love today.
If you've just read all of this and are confused, upset, or curious about anything I have said, please email me! I'd love to talk with you, even if we disagree, I'd love to hear your take on anything I have said.
Please be praying for focus for me today, I'm working on a big project that will take me a long time to complete, and I need diligence and a good work ethic to do it well. Please be praying for rest, as I haven't been sleeping well, and I'm waking up exhausted most mornings. Today I'm praying for CCF as they get closer to kick-off for Go Week, and as some of my dearest friends leave for resident retreat. May it be a time of rest, and preparation for the work God is calling you into at one of the biggest missions fields he can call us to.
I miss everyone in Florida, eat a Publix Sub for me if you get the chance!
John 3:30
-Daniel
Paul does a great job of explaining how God chose the Israelites to be his people, but that did not mean that they were all children of God. In verse 6 he says, "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Many Jewish people would flash there descent from Abraham as a symbol of their relationship with God, but Paul makes it clear later that God's favor only carried with those who came from Isaac, Abraham's promised son through Sarah. He states in this verse that true membership into God's people is based on faith, and not on physical ancestry.
This is GREAT news for people who understand God's grace. I'm not claiming to understand it fully, because God is teaching me so much, and I know about as much as a child in my faith; but God has reminded me of something truly incredible this morning. My acceptance by the Creator of all the universe is not based on how much money my family makes, where I was born, who my grandparents were, what football team I like, my political views, and it is certainly not based on anything I have done to try and be "good enough" for God; but it is solely based on faith in the fact that God loves me, ad sent his son to take the punishment for the crimes of treason and idolatry against Him. This is GREAT news because the same is true for ALL people. Not just the people who have their life together, or who were born in the south, or for people who are good enough. But EVERYONE. When Jesus gives an invitation to follow him in John 3:16, he says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." When he says whoever believes he means every single person who believes.
In a society where everything we do has qualifications or prerequisites, Jesus offers us something different. You may make a sports team because you perform well enough, or may land a job because you went to a good school, or you may get into a country club because you make enough money; thankfully this is not the case with Jesus. The only prerequisite for being a follower of Jesus is admitting the truth: that we don't have it all together, that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves from the punishment we deserve, that our life will fall apart and leave us feeling empty without Jesus, that we have no greater purpose than to serve him, and we need his grace to live a life worthy of the sacrifice he gave to save us. It's based on faith in the One who created us to save us from ourselves, and the judgement we have earned.
I am so thankful for grace today, and even more grateful for the people God has placed in my life who have brought me back to him, our out my rebellion and selfishness, time and time again. I am thankful for the cross, because it is enough for a sinner like me to be accepted by a holy and righteous God. I am thankful for love today.
If you've just read all of this and are confused, upset, or curious about anything I have said, please email me! I'd love to talk with you, even if we disagree, I'd love to hear your take on anything I have said.
Please be praying for focus for me today, I'm working on a big project that will take me a long time to complete, and I need diligence and a good work ethic to do it well. Please be praying for rest, as I haven't been sleeping well, and I'm waking up exhausted most mornings. Today I'm praying for CCF as they get closer to kick-off for Go Week, and as some of my dearest friends leave for resident retreat. May it be a time of rest, and preparation for the work God is calling you into at one of the biggest missions fields he can call us to.
I miss everyone in Florida, eat a Publix Sub for me if you get the chance!
John 3:30
-Daniel
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tuesday, August 13th, 2013
After a meeting with Jon, the director of operations at TMP, I FINALLY have a job description! I am very much looking forward to this year with TMP after the meeting I had today because I see the heart of the staff, and how much they care for me and want me to succeed, which is truly a humbling realization. The staff at Trash Mountain is full of hard working, dedicated, compassionate people who I look forward to serving with for the duration of my internship. Jon and I are very determined to make our relationship stronger by turning it into a discipleship. We are going to read the book 'Multiply' by Francis Chan together, and discuss it and our personal lives on a weekly basis. I am VERY excited for this, it will probably end up being my favorite part of the internship.
Also I am excited to announce that I am planning on going on a missions trip with TMP as a leader, which will be a unique experience. I have been on missions trips before, even with TMP, but I am very excited to see the trip from the perspective of a leader. My goal to get on a trip to the Philippines, once we schedule one hopefully this upcoming spring! This would be my fist missions trip on over two years, and TMP has offered to pay for my entire trip which is an enormous blessing. Words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am to be a part of the work God is doing in this ministry.
When I first moved to Topeka, I wanted to see if there were any places to hear live music, as I have enjoyed doing that in the past. And, much to my surprise, I met a band outside Burger Stand yesterday on my lunch break, who told me that I should check out a few bands who are playing in Lawrence, Kansas on Thursday. I did a little bit of research, and I was even more surprised to find out that there are several small venues in Lawrence, and one bigger one that a few of my favorite bands will be playing at over the next few months. This was comforting, and exciting to find out in the middle of an exhausting day in the office.
Things at TMP are becoming more and more busy as we move closer to our biggest fund raiser event of the year in October called SPOKEN. Last year we saw an incredible 700% increase in giving as we shared the story of what God is doing in and through this ministry, specifically unveiling our recent work in the Philippines which had just began around the time of SPOKEN last year. We are praying for big things this year, and would ask that you join us in praying for God to blow our minds, yet again, with the generous hearts of the people of Topeka and the surrounding areas.
Please pray for me, as I begin to plug myself into the local church. Pray that God would give me friends who are passionate about seeking him, and who want to see me fall in love with God and the work he is going to do in my heart. Pray that I would continue to desire God's word, and to lift his name high in my life as I wait for him to move. Please pray for CCF, the campus ministry at Florida State University, as they begin Go Week, and campus outreach to new freshmen on campus. Pray for boldness, and clarity from the Director, and among the students in the ministry. And last of all, please pray for Trash Mountain Project, that God would continue to reveal himself to us, and that he would direct us during this time of preparation and research. Pray for Brett, the founder, that he would feel at peace, and not be overwhelmed. Pray for Jon, that he would not be stressed, but continue to work hard and be an encouragement to me, and everyone else in the office.
I miss everyone in Florida If you get the chance to go to the beach, do it for me, please.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Also I am excited to announce that I am planning on going on a missions trip with TMP as a leader, which will be a unique experience. I have been on missions trips before, even with TMP, but I am very excited to see the trip from the perspective of a leader. My goal to get on a trip to the Philippines, once we schedule one hopefully this upcoming spring! This would be my fist missions trip on over two years, and TMP has offered to pay for my entire trip which is an enormous blessing. Words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am to be a part of the work God is doing in this ministry.
When I first moved to Topeka, I wanted to see if there were any places to hear live music, as I have enjoyed doing that in the past. And, much to my surprise, I met a band outside Burger Stand yesterday on my lunch break, who told me that I should check out a few bands who are playing in Lawrence, Kansas on Thursday. I did a little bit of research, and I was even more surprised to find out that there are several small venues in Lawrence, and one bigger one that a few of my favorite bands will be playing at over the next few months. This was comforting, and exciting to find out in the middle of an exhausting day in the office.
Things at TMP are becoming more and more busy as we move closer to our biggest fund raiser event of the year in October called SPOKEN. Last year we saw an incredible 700% increase in giving as we shared the story of what God is doing in and through this ministry, specifically unveiling our recent work in the Philippines which had just began around the time of SPOKEN last year. We are praying for big things this year, and would ask that you join us in praying for God to blow our minds, yet again, with the generous hearts of the people of Topeka and the surrounding areas.
Please pray for me, as I begin to plug myself into the local church. Pray that God would give me friends who are passionate about seeking him, and who want to see me fall in love with God and the work he is going to do in my heart. Pray that I would continue to desire God's word, and to lift his name high in my life as I wait for him to move. Please pray for CCF, the campus ministry at Florida State University, as they begin Go Week, and campus outreach to new freshmen on campus. Pray for boldness, and clarity from the Director, and among the students in the ministry. And last of all, please pray for Trash Mountain Project, that God would continue to reveal himself to us, and that he would direct us during this time of preparation and research. Pray for Brett, the founder, that he would feel at peace, and not be overwhelmed. Pray for Jon, that he would not be stressed, but continue to work hard and be an encouragement to me, and everyone else in the office.
I miss everyone in Florida If you get the chance to go to the beach, do it for me, please.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Monday, August 12, 2013
Monday; August 12, 2013
This morning for devotions I read Romans 8.
Romans 8 us such a great challenge to live a Spirit filled life. It clearly states in more than one way, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (v.8). It is only through the death and resurrection of Christ that we have life with the Father, so why would we expect to live in the flesh we needed saving from, and expect to have life? The hope provided in the Gospel for us is given a fresh perspective in verse 15, "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.."
I find myself wanting to know God as Paul did, in verse 18 he disregards his current sufferings because he knows that the glory of God in his sufferings is worth it. I see in my own life that I constantly pray for God to deliver me from sufferings, or keep me from them altogether, but rarely pray for God's name to be lifted high in the midst of my suffering. Even while I'm in Kansas, still waiting to make friends, nervous about finding a new church, and unsure about completely how long I will be here I pray and ask God to change things to make me more comfortable, instead of praising God for the things he has done to get me here and trusting in his plan. As one of my good friends, Isaac, once told me, "It's hard to carry your cross when comfort is your god." I'm praying for God's name to be lifted high in my life regardless of my circumstances. I want to be able to rejoice in my sufferings because I know God is with me, and as verse 28 says, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose." God's promise to be with me is clear here, as well as in verse 31b, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" I have the promise of the presence of the creator of the universe who says that nothing in this world can come against him, and he promises to sanctify me in my sufferings if I hold onto him. I pray earnestly this morning to be made more like Christ, who relies on the strength of the Father and seeks to glorify him with whatever he does.
Please continue to pray for me as I am in this time of transition. I visited two churches this weekend, and I will probably revisit both of them over the next month. Unfortunately I am still looking for a friend group to plug into, but God has been showing me during this time where I have lack of fellowship and community that he is all I really need. I don't have any one else's passion to ride off of, or anyone to make me want to have a stronger relationship with Christ. It has to come from my heart, and it has to be sincere. Please continue to pray that I would have a burning desire for God's word, to read it and understand it, to memorize it, and to share it. Please pray for God to keep working in my heart, and to change my will, my affections, and my priorities to reflect his heart.
My prayers go out to the Downs family today, who have just parted ways with TMP and are moving back to Florida. I know that whatever God calls them to do, they will excel at, and I believe heaven will be a more crowded place one day because of the work they will do where the Lord calls them.
My prayers also go out to Christian Campus Fellowship at Florida State University as they prepare for Go week, and another year of campus ministry in a place that is so dark, and whose heart has turned away from God. I am praying that they would be bold as an organization, and as individual members. I pray that God would do a mighty work in the midst of the students at FSU and CCF, and that the name of Christ would be glorified in everything they say and do.
Sorry for any grammatical/spelling errors today; I did not get much sleep this weekend. Please pray for me when you think about it, I miss everyone in Florida will all of my heart, and I pray for you daily.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Romans 8 us such a great challenge to live a Spirit filled life. It clearly states in more than one way, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (v.8). It is only through the death and resurrection of Christ that we have life with the Father, so why would we expect to live in the flesh we needed saving from, and expect to have life? The hope provided in the Gospel for us is given a fresh perspective in verse 15, "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.."
I find myself wanting to know God as Paul did, in verse 18 he disregards his current sufferings because he knows that the glory of God in his sufferings is worth it. I see in my own life that I constantly pray for God to deliver me from sufferings, or keep me from them altogether, but rarely pray for God's name to be lifted high in the midst of my suffering. Even while I'm in Kansas, still waiting to make friends, nervous about finding a new church, and unsure about completely how long I will be here I pray and ask God to change things to make me more comfortable, instead of praising God for the things he has done to get me here and trusting in his plan. As one of my good friends, Isaac, once told me, "It's hard to carry your cross when comfort is your god." I'm praying for God's name to be lifted high in my life regardless of my circumstances. I want to be able to rejoice in my sufferings because I know God is with me, and as verse 28 says, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose." God's promise to be with me is clear here, as well as in verse 31b, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" I have the promise of the presence of the creator of the universe who says that nothing in this world can come against him, and he promises to sanctify me in my sufferings if I hold onto him. I pray earnestly this morning to be made more like Christ, who relies on the strength of the Father and seeks to glorify him with whatever he does.
Please continue to pray for me as I am in this time of transition. I visited two churches this weekend, and I will probably revisit both of them over the next month. Unfortunately I am still looking for a friend group to plug into, but God has been showing me during this time where I have lack of fellowship and community that he is all I really need. I don't have any one else's passion to ride off of, or anyone to make me want to have a stronger relationship with Christ. It has to come from my heart, and it has to be sincere. Please continue to pray that I would have a burning desire for God's word, to read it and understand it, to memorize it, and to share it. Please pray for God to keep working in my heart, and to change my will, my affections, and my priorities to reflect his heart.
My prayers go out to the Downs family today, who have just parted ways with TMP and are moving back to Florida. I know that whatever God calls them to do, they will excel at, and I believe heaven will be a more crowded place one day because of the work they will do where the Lord calls them.
My prayers also go out to Christian Campus Fellowship at Florida State University as they prepare for Go week, and another year of campus ministry in a place that is so dark, and whose heart has turned away from God. I am praying that they would be bold as an organization, and as individual members. I pray that God would do a mighty work in the midst of the students at FSU and CCF, and that the name of Christ would be glorified in everything they say and do.
Sorry for any grammatical/spelling errors today; I did not get much sleep this weekend. Please pray for me when you think about it, I miss everyone in Florida will all of my heart, and I pray for you daily.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Friday, August 9, 2013
Daily Devotion: August 9th 2013
Continuing on my journey through the book of Romans, I read chapter 7 this morning, and it completely tore me apart in the best way.
I loved reading Romans 7 today, but so many things Paul writes about confuse me, or I am not able to understand them, so I ended up reading Romans 7 about 3 times. I love that Paul goes through the every day struggle of the Christian faith in verses 13-25. He has just finished explaining in chapter 6 and the beginning of chapter 7 how we are dead to sin, and the law has no power to condemn those who are in Christ, and now we are free to live by the Spirit. He explains that the law has just proved our need of a savior.
We see the law, and the commandments seem impossible to keep because they are. There is not a day in my life that will pass that I won't covet something, or whore my heart out to idols of this world that won't satisfy me. The law does not make me sin, but sin has taken a hold of the law and made disobeying it look enticing, fun, or and pleasurable. I am hopeless against the temptation of sin on my own. This proves my need for grace, and sacrifice in my place. There is nothing in my heart that is able to save itself, but Jesus came and stood firm against the temptation on the devil himself and took my place on the cross, suffering the worst form of death penalty for my shameless acts of treason against a righteous God.
I am praying today that the facts stated above, would begin to change my heart, and my desires. I pray that the act of Jesus coming to die for my sin would captivate my heart, and motivate and empower me to live for him, as one who has died to my sin. I want Christ's death, burial, and resurrection to change my behavior for the glory of God.
Paul goes on to further explain in Romans 7 that we can desire so strongly in our hearts to glorify God, and serve Him, but our flesh is unable to carry it out. He says, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate...For I have the desire in me to do what s right, but not the ability to carry it out." This is typical of every follower of Jesus. The truth is, Jesus is constantly changing our desires as we seek Him, to desire to do things that will glorify him. But the gospel says my flesh is selfish, weak, and unwilling to do what God wants. In my own power I am unable to serve God, even though I may have the intentions to. It will take Jesus showing up in my life to change me, and empower me to do the good things he wants me to do to glorify Him. I'm praying for just that, in this time of quiet and still in my life. One, of many areas in my life where I am lacking is being still, and resting in Christ. I enjoy running about, doing things at 100mph with people all the time. But God has given me this time, for whatever reason to grow in him without distractions, to find out something that I couldn't see while I wasn't so focused on Him. Please pray that my desire for Christ, and my desire to lift His name high in my life would grow from my heart into my actions. That through Christ, I would be able to do the things my heart wants to do.
John3:30
-Daniel
I loved reading Romans 7 today, but so many things Paul writes about confuse me, or I am not able to understand them, so I ended up reading Romans 7 about 3 times. I love that Paul goes through the every day struggle of the Christian faith in verses 13-25. He has just finished explaining in chapter 6 and the beginning of chapter 7 how we are dead to sin, and the law has no power to condemn those who are in Christ, and now we are free to live by the Spirit. He explains that the law has just proved our need of a savior.
We see the law, and the commandments seem impossible to keep because they are. There is not a day in my life that will pass that I won't covet something, or whore my heart out to idols of this world that won't satisfy me. The law does not make me sin, but sin has taken a hold of the law and made disobeying it look enticing, fun, or and pleasurable. I am hopeless against the temptation of sin on my own. This proves my need for grace, and sacrifice in my place. There is nothing in my heart that is able to save itself, but Jesus came and stood firm against the temptation on the devil himself and took my place on the cross, suffering the worst form of death penalty for my shameless acts of treason against a righteous God.
I am praying today that the facts stated above, would begin to change my heart, and my desires. I pray that the act of Jesus coming to die for my sin would captivate my heart, and motivate and empower me to live for him, as one who has died to my sin. I want Christ's death, burial, and resurrection to change my behavior for the glory of God.
Paul goes on to further explain in Romans 7 that we can desire so strongly in our hearts to glorify God, and serve Him, but our flesh is unable to carry it out. He says, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate...For I have the desire in me to do what s right, but not the ability to carry it out." This is typical of every follower of Jesus. The truth is, Jesus is constantly changing our desires as we seek Him, to desire to do things that will glorify him. But the gospel says my flesh is selfish, weak, and unwilling to do what God wants. In my own power I am unable to serve God, even though I may have the intentions to. It will take Jesus showing up in my life to change me, and empower me to do the good things he wants me to do to glorify Him. I'm praying for just that, in this time of quiet and still in my life. One, of many areas in my life where I am lacking is being still, and resting in Christ. I enjoy running about, doing things at 100mph with people all the time. But God has given me this time, for whatever reason to grow in him without distractions, to find out something that I couldn't see while I wasn't so focused on Him. Please pray that my desire for Christ, and my desire to lift His name high in my life would grow from my heart into my actions. That through Christ, I would be able to do the things my heart wants to do.
John3:30
-Daniel
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Day 3, Wednesday, August 8th 2013
The past few days have been long days in the office. I have been praying for God to stretch me, and use me even if it takes me outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to take this internship as a step towards being a completely committed follower of Jesus. I had no idea that God would begin working in me so much, so quickly.
I'm feeling stretched in an office environment that is at times uncomfortable for me. I love the people I get to work with every day, but the work is tasking, and some days I will spend almost the whole day at a desk doing research. But I know the work is worth it, and I enjoy doing work that I can see directly benefitting the ministry. Other days I will spend doing construction type work in the back of the office where we are looking to expand to. So far today I have used two different types of saws, spackled nearly every wall in the new office space, and helped run some electrical wiring; all before breaking for lunch. This work keeps me busy, and helps time go by very fast. Hopefully, at the rate we are working to finish the back office, we will be able to move in by Sept. 1st!
We had our first staff meeting today, and it was a great time of encouragement to see people I am growing to love and respect very much so passionate about the same things I am passionate about, to the point of calling this ministry their full time job. Their dedication to the mission and vision of TMP is very serious, but not to the point that we do not have fun in the office. The office (much to my liking) is a very relaxed atmosphere. I'm getting along with everyone, but at the same time I'm still a little disappointed to not know any people my own age.
As an extrovert, I can sometimes catch myself depending on interaction with others, or feeding off of the time I have with friends. God is doing exactly what I asked, in stretching me to find that I can find my fullest joy when I am most satisfied in Him, and Him alone. I am praying that I will truly believe that He is all I need when I am sad about not having friends, or nervous about trying to make new ones. I am also praying that God would be my source of comfort, that I would not run to friends, or other things of this world before bringing all my needs to my heavenly Father who knows them, and knows what I need to survive.
I read Romans 6 today, which talks a lot about having died to sin, and being raised with Christ. We who are in Christ are no longer slaves to sin, what great hope this is! I'm praying that I will have grace to live like one who has been set free from sin, passionate about living for Christ who has set me free.
John 3:30
-Daniel
I'm feeling stretched in an office environment that is at times uncomfortable for me. I love the people I get to work with every day, but the work is tasking, and some days I will spend almost the whole day at a desk doing research. But I know the work is worth it, and I enjoy doing work that I can see directly benefitting the ministry. Other days I will spend doing construction type work in the back of the office where we are looking to expand to. So far today I have used two different types of saws, spackled nearly every wall in the new office space, and helped run some electrical wiring; all before breaking for lunch. This work keeps me busy, and helps time go by very fast. Hopefully, at the rate we are working to finish the back office, we will be able to move in by Sept. 1st!
We had our first staff meeting today, and it was a great time of encouragement to see people I am growing to love and respect very much so passionate about the same things I am passionate about, to the point of calling this ministry their full time job. Their dedication to the mission and vision of TMP is very serious, but not to the point that we do not have fun in the office. The office (much to my liking) is a very relaxed atmosphere. I'm getting along with everyone, but at the same time I'm still a little disappointed to not know any people my own age.
As an extrovert, I can sometimes catch myself depending on interaction with others, or feeding off of the time I have with friends. God is doing exactly what I asked, in stretching me to find that I can find my fullest joy when I am most satisfied in Him, and Him alone. I am praying that I will truly believe that He is all I need when I am sad about not having friends, or nervous about trying to make new ones. I am also praying that God would be my source of comfort, that I would not run to friends, or other things of this world before bringing all my needs to my heavenly Father who knows them, and knows what I need to survive.
I read Romans 6 today, which talks a lot about having died to sin, and being raised with Christ. We who are in Christ are no longer slaves to sin, what great hope this is! I'm praying that I will have grace to live like one who has been set free from sin, passionate about living for Christ who has set me free.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Just Another Day In The Office.
Today I was given the overwhelming task of researching landfill/trash dump communities in Central/South America. This may seem like an easy task, all I have to do is find out about some communities that need help, right?
Unfortunately this is not the case. As I took this task I prayed for God to speak to me as I researched, for Him to move me to feel compassion for these families who are in need. With every community that I stumble across my heart is broken into pieces knowing that the love and peace of Christ is not a part of these people's lives.
I first see the basic physical needs of these children and their families; they need new shoes, a pair of pants without holes in them, a roof over their head, and clean water to be bathing in and drinking from. But far more essential than their physical need is their need for Christ. As a Christian for the past 15 years, I find myself taking for granted the fact that Christ is always with me, I have the promise in His word that I am his son, and he will go before me and guide me. He promises me rest when I am weary, and strength when I am unable. He gives me peace when I am anxious, and promises to hear my prayer and comfort me. But in addition to the physical needs these people have, they do not have the hope and love of Christ to take refuge in. My heart s heavy today specifically for the dump community of La Chureca, in Managua, Nicaragua. The dump community currently holds about 1,000 residents who live and work on the dump trying to find things to recycle, and sell for money to feed their families with. 50% of these 1,000 people are under the age of 18. I don't know if TMP will eventually end up there one day, but God has placed them on my heart today, as well as my need for Him. I want to no longer take for granted the presence of the holy and righteous God who made me, and sent his son to die for me, but rather I want to be humbled in his presence, that HE would adopt someone like ME into his family, and call me his son. I want put HIM on the throne of my life, and not all the meaningless things I so easily place there in my busy day.
God is moving in my heart, please pray that he does not stop until I am the man he wants me to be.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Unfortunately this is not the case. As I took this task I prayed for God to speak to me as I researched, for Him to move me to feel compassion for these families who are in need. With every community that I stumble across my heart is broken into pieces knowing that the love and peace of Christ is not a part of these people's lives.
I first see the basic physical needs of these children and their families; they need new shoes, a pair of pants without holes in them, a roof over their head, and clean water to be bathing in and drinking from. But far more essential than their physical need is their need for Christ. As a Christian for the past 15 years, I find myself taking for granted the fact that Christ is always with me, I have the promise in His word that I am his son, and he will go before me and guide me. He promises me rest when I am weary, and strength when I am unable. He gives me peace when I am anxious, and promises to hear my prayer and comfort me. But in addition to the physical needs these people have, they do not have the hope and love of Christ to take refuge in. My heart s heavy today specifically for the dump community of La Chureca, in Managua, Nicaragua. The dump community currently holds about 1,000 residents who live and work on the dump trying to find things to recycle, and sell for money to feed their families with. 50% of these 1,000 people are under the age of 18. I don't know if TMP will eventually end up there one day, but God has placed them on my heart today, as well as my need for Him. I want to no longer take for granted the presence of the holy and righteous God who made me, and sent his son to die for me, but rather I want to be humbled in his presence, that HE would adopt someone like ME into his family, and call me his son. I want put HIM on the throne of my life, and not all the meaningless things I so easily place there in my busy day.
God is moving in my heart, please pray that he does not stop until I am the man he wants me to be.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Day 1; Devotions: Tuesday, August 6th 2013
Today is the first day of my internship with Trash Mountain Project! If you have heard me talking about this company, and still have NO idea what organization I am referring to, or want more information on the ministry I am interning for; visit https://www.trashmountain.com
I came into the office this morning at 9am not really knowing what to expect, and quite frankly I was very nervous to begin this journey that will span the next year. I was welcomed by a few familiar faces, and then hit the ground running with start up projects to take a load off of Jon, the missions director at TMP. Undoubtedly it will take me a few days to get in a rhythm in the office, but I look forward to working with the great staff at TMP! Tomorrow I will go over the bulk of the details as far as expectations, goals, and begin what will hopefully turn out to be a discipleship from wither Jon or Brett, the ministry founder. Please be praying that I have focus while I am working in the office, and that I would seek accountability among the older men on staff who have Godly wisdom to offer me. It is my prayer that this year will change me completely from my heart outward to my actions. If I return home after this year the same person I was when I left, I will count the year as a waste.
This morning I re-read the first few verses of Romans 5 again, and prayed that God would begin to reveal himself to me tangibly through His word. The first 11 verses of Romans 5 are a great reminder of two things for me: I am set free by Christ, where true freedom lies, and that it is Christ who changes me; not myself. Over and over again it explains how we have freedom and peace with God through faith in Christ. My actions will never be good enough to get me peace with God, or freedom from the bondage of my sin. Verse 6 actually says, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly", clearly explaining that I am too weak to save myself. But verse 8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." What a God we serve, who dies for us in our shameless sin and rebellion against his perfect plan. Even after he died for those who do not love him, he continues to change us. Romans 5:3 explains how our suffering for the sake of Christ produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope in Christ. And the hope we have in Christ is promised not to disappoint us because God's love is always with us. The same love that loves the weak and unloveable promises to give us hope, and to change us to glorify the Father if we place our hope in it.
Today I am praying for endurance in the love of Christ. I know that there will be times over this next year when I miss all of my friends, or fear that I m missing out on all of the experiences they're having, or when work will be very stressful or hard. But if I cling to the hope of the love of Christ, I will not be disappointed.
Thank you for reading, I hope to continue to update on how my devotions are going. If you enjoy this, and would like to support my work for Trash Mountain Project, you can donate one-time or monthly at https://www.trashmountain.com/donate
If you would like to email me, for a personal update, or need me for any reason; I can be emailed at Daniel@trashmountain.com
Thank you again for you continued prayers and support.
John 3:30
-Daniel
I came into the office this morning at 9am not really knowing what to expect, and quite frankly I was very nervous to begin this journey that will span the next year. I was welcomed by a few familiar faces, and then hit the ground running with start up projects to take a load off of Jon, the missions director at TMP. Undoubtedly it will take me a few days to get in a rhythm in the office, but I look forward to working with the great staff at TMP! Tomorrow I will go over the bulk of the details as far as expectations, goals, and begin what will hopefully turn out to be a discipleship from wither Jon or Brett, the ministry founder. Please be praying that I have focus while I am working in the office, and that I would seek accountability among the older men on staff who have Godly wisdom to offer me. It is my prayer that this year will change me completely from my heart outward to my actions. If I return home after this year the same person I was when I left, I will count the year as a waste.
This morning I re-read the first few verses of Romans 5 again, and prayed that God would begin to reveal himself to me tangibly through His word. The first 11 verses of Romans 5 are a great reminder of two things for me: I am set free by Christ, where true freedom lies, and that it is Christ who changes me; not myself. Over and over again it explains how we have freedom and peace with God through faith in Christ. My actions will never be good enough to get me peace with God, or freedom from the bondage of my sin. Verse 6 actually says, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly", clearly explaining that I am too weak to save myself. But verse 8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." What a God we serve, who dies for us in our shameless sin and rebellion against his perfect plan. Even after he died for those who do not love him, he continues to change us. Romans 5:3 explains how our suffering for the sake of Christ produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope in Christ. And the hope we have in Christ is promised not to disappoint us because God's love is always with us. The same love that loves the weak and unloveable promises to give us hope, and to change us to glorify the Father if we place our hope in it.
Today I am praying for endurance in the love of Christ. I know that there will be times over this next year when I miss all of my friends, or fear that I m missing out on all of the experiences they're having, or when work will be very stressful or hard. But if I cling to the hope of the love of Christ, I will not be disappointed.
Thank you for reading, I hope to continue to update on how my devotions are going. If you enjoy this, and would like to support my work for Trash Mountain Project, you can donate one-time or monthly at https://www.trashmountain.com/donate
If you would like to email me, for a personal update, or need me for any reason; I can be emailed at Daniel@trashmountain.com
Thank you again for you continued prayers and support.
John 3:30
-Daniel
Monday, August 5, 2013
Morning Devotions: Monday August 5th.
After a little bit of searching through the city of Topeka; I found a Starbucks, put on some Hillsong Live, and read Romans 5 as well as a chapter from the book Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.
Not a Fan has been an incredible challenge to read through. It is a book challenging believers to become completely committed followers of Jesus, not just fans of the work He has done for us. Today's chapter was about the call Jesus gives to all believers in Luke 9:23, when he says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." When Jesus says, "come after" he uses the same language used when describing someone who passionately pursues a romantic relationship. As I began to think of all the things that seem ridiculous that I would do for someone I loved or was pursuing, I could not think of many noteworthy things to explain the same of my pursuit of Christ. Our culture places so much focus on the pursuit of "the one you love." It has been the plot of countless movies, poems, songs, etc. I confess that my heart doesn't pursue Jesus with the same relentless passion that I plan to one day pursue a wife, or even pursue the things that will bring glory to my own name. I am praying that a consuming passion for the word of God would overtake my heart. I want to constantly pursue Christ, and glorify his name like it is the only thing in this world that will satisfy me.
In Matthew 13:44 Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a buried treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
God has placed an opportunity in front of me to give up everything I have and buy into the work He wants to accomplish in me for His kingdom. I moved to Kansas to see God work in me in ways that he would not without me being stretched, and strained away from the comfort of family, friends, and the routine. I am praying for grace to count these sacrifices as work Christ is doing in me to take away everything that is not Him. I am praying to sacrifice everything I don't need, to gain the treasure in Christ because I know it will be worth it.
One of the most basic principles of love is that it cannot be forced. I want to make a decision to pray for a love for God that will consume my thoughts, my words, and actions. I know that pursuing Christ with my whole heart will be worth it, but I don't really believe it until I do it. Please pray for me, I cannot do this alone or under my own strength. I will need Jesus to show up in my life, and change the focus of my heart, change my desires, and change my affections to be able to love him, and love others well. Please pray that Jesus would have the victory over my selfish heart today, and that I would be willing to give up my everything to gain Christ.
John3:30
-Daniel
Not a Fan has been an incredible challenge to read through. It is a book challenging believers to become completely committed followers of Jesus, not just fans of the work He has done for us. Today's chapter was about the call Jesus gives to all believers in Luke 9:23, when he says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." When Jesus says, "come after" he uses the same language used when describing someone who passionately pursues a romantic relationship. As I began to think of all the things that seem ridiculous that I would do for someone I loved or was pursuing, I could not think of many noteworthy things to explain the same of my pursuit of Christ. Our culture places so much focus on the pursuit of "the one you love." It has been the plot of countless movies, poems, songs, etc. I confess that my heart doesn't pursue Jesus with the same relentless passion that I plan to one day pursue a wife, or even pursue the things that will bring glory to my own name. I am praying that a consuming passion for the word of God would overtake my heart. I want to constantly pursue Christ, and glorify his name like it is the only thing in this world that will satisfy me.
In Matthew 13:44 Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a buried treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
God has placed an opportunity in front of me to give up everything I have and buy into the work He wants to accomplish in me for His kingdom. I moved to Kansas to see God work in me in ways that he would not without me being stretched, and strained away from the comfort of family, friends, and the routine. I am praying for grace to count these sacrifices as work Christ is doing in me to take away everything that is not Him. I am praying to sacrifice everything I don't need, to gain the treasure in Christ because I know it will be worth it.
One of the most basic principles of love is that it cannot be forced. I want to make a decision to pray for a love for God that will consume my thoughts, my words, and actions. I know that pursuing Christ with my whole heart will be worth it, but I don't really believe it until I do it. Please pray for me, I cannot do this alone or under my own strength. I will need Jesus to show up in my life, and change the focus of my heart, change my desires, and change my affections to be able to love him, and love others well. Please pray that Jesus would have the victory over my selfish heart today, and that I would be willing to give up my everything to gain Christ.
John3:30
-Daniel
Finally in Topeka!
Last night I (finally) arrived in Topeka, Kansas! Praise the Lord for safe travels, and no serious problems on the way up from Florida. I am staying with a terrific host family who is passionate about serving the city of Topeka, and very involved in YoungLife, as well as their local church. I look forward to learning from them, as well as being challenged and stretched to do my best work always. It means a lot knowing that I have a nice family to come home to and relax with after a day of work.
Tomorrow marks the start of my internship in the office at TMP, so today I will be visiting the office, and finding my way around Topeka to try and get familiar with the city a little bit.
I am very excited about the first official day of my internship tomorrow, please be praying for these few things:
1. Focus, I want to be as useful as TMP needs me to be while I am in Topeka.
2. Boldness to get involved with a local church, and make some friends.
3. A desire for God's word, and a desire to fall in love with the work he is doing in my life.
Thanks so much for your continued support in prayer, if you would like to financially support me, you can give a one-time gift, or a monthly gift for my internship at http://www.trashmountain.com/donate
John 3:30
-Daniel
Tomorrow marks the start of my internship in the office at TMP, so today I will be visiting the office, and finding my way around Topeka to try and get familiar with the city a little bit.
I am very excited about the first official day of my internship tomorrow, please be praying for these few things:
1. Focus, I want to be as useful as TMP needs me to be while I am in Topeka.
2. Boldness to get involved with a local church, and make some friends.
3. A desire for God's word, and a desire to fall in love with the work he is doing in my life.
Thanks so much for your continued support in prayer, if you would like to financially support me, you can give a one-time gift, or a monthly gift for my internship at http://www.trashmountain.com/donate
John 3:30
-Daniel
Friday, August 2, 2013
Today is the day!
Today is the first day of my 3 day journey to Topeka, KS for my internship with Trash Mountain Project! I'm anxious to see what God has in store for this next year, and I'm anticipating big things!
God has blessed me beyond measure this summer, teaching me a lot about responsibility and patience through the fund-raising process, and allowing me to experience the call of being a disciple for the first time in my life. The next few days, no doubt will be physically, emotionally, and spiritually tasking. But God promises rest to the weary, strength to the brokenhearted, and his presence with me always! Here are a few ways to be praying for me as I begin this time of transition to a new community God is calling me to:
1. Safety on the road: clarity and focus while driving, as well as safety for my car.
2. Peace of mind to know that following God's will for my life is the most satisfying thing I could be doing with this next year.
3. A desire to seek God daily when I encounter fear or anxiety: undoubtedly I will face some adversity over this time of change in my life, but I will need grace to remember Christ is my rock in a world that is constantly changing.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! Without you, this move to obey God's calling on my life would not be possible! If you would still like to give to my internship, you can visit https://trashmountain.com/donate and give a one-time or monthly gift to the Daniel Firmin Internship.
God has blessed me beyond measure this summer, teaching me a lot about responsibility and patience through the fund-raising process, and allowing me to experience the call of being a disciple for the first time in my life. The next few days, no doubt will be physically, emotionally, and spiritually tasking. But God promises rest to the weary, strength to the brokenhearted, and his presence with me always! Here are a few ways to be praying for me as I begin this time of transition to a new community God is calling me to:
1. Safety on the road: clarity and focus while driving, as well as safety for my car.
2. Peace of mind to know that following God's will for my life is the most satisfying thing I could be doing with this next year.
3. A desire to seek God daily when I encounter fear or anxiety: undoubtedly I will face some adversity over this time of change in my life, but I will need grace to remember Christ is my rock in a world that is constantly changing.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! Without you, this move to obey God's calling on my life would not be possible! If you would still like to give to my internship, you can visit https://trashmountain.com/donate and give a one-time or monthly gift to the Daniel Firmin Internship.
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